Power Generators
In an emergency situation where there is a power outage, there are two ways to supply possibly life saving electricity, you can use a power generator or an inverter.
Generators
A power generator can be particularly noisy, it may be difficult to maintain the engine, and will have to store fuel for it (gasoline can only be stored for approx. a month). They consume about a half-gallon of gas every hour, are inexpensive, for example a 5000 watt generator ranges between $600 - $1200, and can run from diesel fuel or propane.
Inverters
Inverters are electrical devices that can convert 12 volt power into 120 volt power. They are usually run from a car battery or from a deep-cycle battery. They are used primarily for low power consumption, ie. 200 watts. Inverters are almost maintance free and are silent.